The Evanston Township High School Board of Education held a “First Reading” Monday night of a revised policy that students “shall be treated and supported in a manner consistent with their gender identity.”
The policy, officially designated as Policy 7:10, goes on to say that “this shall include, but not be limited to, students having access to gendered facilities, including restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.”
While a formal vote on the policy is scheduled for a meeting on May 1, it was apparent from the limited discussion that all members of the board supported the measure.
The portion of the policy dealing with “sex equity” is incorporated into an overall policy that stipulated that “equal educational and extracurricular opportunities shall be available for all students without regard to color, race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, gender identity, status of being homeless, immigration status, order of protection status, actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy.”
Administratively, the policy directs the superintendent to appoint a “nondiscrimination coordinator” and that the superintendent and principal “shall use reasonable measures to inform staff members and students of this policy and grievance procedure.”
The policy further directs the superintendent to “adopt appropriate procedures to effectuate this policy, including but not limited to the policy that the district shall treat and support all students in a manner consistent with the gender identity.”
It stipulates that the superintendent “shall convene an advisory committee of stakeholders, including students, to formulate recommendations on appropriate procedures to effectuate the policy that the district shall treat students in a manner consistent with their gender identity.”